Is it normal for female in heat to be protective/possesive?

[Cammotwin]

My fiance plays with my 9mo female Harley trying to get her to protect me from his play aggression. Last night after being crated off and on for most of a 15 hour period (to be separated from the horny 4 year old male while she is in heat.) she was laying on the couch with me (cuddling in apology for head butting me and giving me a bloody lip - at least that's what I say) when my fiance kneeled in front of me and tried to kiss me. She made a weird whine/growl/bark noise and pushed him away with a snap, like she does to the male dog when he's in her business. A few minutes later he reached to pet her and she lunged for his hand and gave a second of hard pressure, not breaking skin, no bruising.

If I am home alone with the two dogs, she will sit next to me and if the male approaches or even walks by, she chases him away with a white/snap/bark directed to him. Rarely does she do this when my fiance is home.

I know my fiance is the alpha to them, so why would she all of a sudden challenge him? I hope this is only her hormones raging and not a personality change.

FYI - The male is going to be neutered tomorrow, and she will too in a few months. We got delayed with her while searching for a house and then moving.

[gagsd]

One of mine is a complete witch when in heat, except to me. She LOVES me then. Only dog I have had with such a personality change.

[bocron]

I don't know that there is such a thing as "normal" behavior during the heat cycle. All of mine act differently, one is very lovey dovey with everything and everyone (including the cats), one becomes kind of shy, and the other, who has only been in heat once so far, became a spastic ball of silliness.
The first heat is usually the least predictable, as they mature they will change of course.

[Chris Wild]

Originally Posted by Cammotwin

My fiance plays with my 9mo female Harley trying to get her to protect me from his play aggression.

While I agree there is no such thing as "normal" during a heat cycle and some females can get downright weird, I immediately keyed in on what you wrote above.

What exactly is your fiance doing, and why? If it is what it sounds like, this is the problem. He should not be "trying to get her to protect you". This is just downright stupid, and potentially dangerous. That sort of behavior around a young dog can create serious trust and relationship issues and cause a lot of confusion and conflict, especially with a young dog, teaching her to view him as either an unstable whacko, or a potential threat, or both. If he's tormenting her trying to activate a defensive response, something which has no place within the family, her aggression toward him may well be justified. She's doing what he's teaching her to do. Especially when adding in hormones making her more moody and short fused.

[Cammotwin]

Chris Wild - I said the same thing when it happened. Hes confusing her with the "play" and being in heat shes not exactly herself.

He plays with his 4yo GSD really rough, letting him bite and everything. When he says they're done playing, it all stops and they back to normal. He thinks shes the same way and that she knows when he's playing.

I try to correct her when she chases the male away and show them equal attention. Is that what I'm supposed to do? I watch Cesar Milan at random and I'm in amazement of these idiots that let their dog attack their partner to the point they sleep in separate rooms. I thought of that the moment she started this lastnight.

[Cassidy's Mom]

Originally Posted by Cammotwin

FYI - The male is going to be neutered tomorrow, and she will too in a few months. We got delayed with her while searching for a house and then moving.

Are you keeping them completely separate 100% of the time until you take him in for his neuter tomorrow? One or the other should be crated in a separate room with the door closed at all times if you don't want an unplanned pregnancy. Even if you're right there you're probably not going to be fast enough to prevent it if they're both out loose together.

[msvette2u]

Originally Posted by Cassidy's Mom

Are you keeping them completely separate 100% of the time until you take him in for his neuter tomorrow? One or the other should be crated in a separate room with the door closed at all times if you don't want an unplanned pregnancy. Even if you're right there you're probably not going to be fast enough to prevent it if they're both out loose together.

They can breed through a crate. And maybe be injured but that urge is unstoppable

[Cassidy's Mom]

That's why I said in a separate room with the door closed.

[Cammotwin]

They are in their crates in different rooms with a regular door and a pocket door between them. I'm not sure when I'm not home and the fiance is... I had her laying with me and the male was in the crate at the time. I am very aware of what could happen. I was tempted to use a proximity shock collar on him to her crate, but figured it would be bad because we move them between the crates normally and don't want him to avoid the one.

[N Smith]

Originally Posted by Cammotwin

My fiance plays with my 9mo female Harley trying to get her to protect me from his play aggression. Last night after being crated off and on for most of a 15 hour period (to be separated from the horny 4 year old male while she is in heat.) she was laying on the couch with me (cuddling in apology for head butting me and giving me a bloody lip - at least that's what I say) when my fiance kneeled in front of me and tried to kiss me. She made a weird whine/growl/bark noise and pushed him away with a snap, like she does to the male dog when he's in her business. A few minutes later he reached to pet her and she lunged for his hand and gave a second of hard pressure, not breaking skin, no bruising.

If I am home alone with the two dogs, she will sit next to me and if the male approaches or even walks by, she chases him away with a white/snap/bark directed to him. Rarely does she do this when my fiance is home.

I know my fiance is the alpha to them, so why would she all of a sudden challenge him? I hope this is only her hormones raging and not a personality change.

FYI - The male is going to be neutered tomorrow, and she will too in a few months. We got delayed with her while searching for a house and then moving.

This dog does not view your hubby as a human leader but as a dog follower.

What is your reaction to her behavior? Heat or not, it is completely unacceptable.

Also, quit with the game, it will only increase this behavior and put it in your dogs head that the behavior is not only allowed, it is rewarded.